Despite efforts to train campaigners on tech tools, many organizations lack a baseline knowledge about data and tech. While some nonprofits hire top talent or consultants to fill this gap, organizations with smaller budgets cannot use data and tech because their needs are beyond basic access to tools. DIS uplifts nonprofits to a common baseline where they can be their own best advocates in data and tech projects through systemic training, personalized restructuring, and mentorship.

In 2020, CIL launched the Digital Innovation Fund in partnership with Schmidt Futures/OneOne Ventures, The Resilient Democracy Fund, and Way to Win to support experimental and innovative digital organizing tactics for state-based organizing groups and sharpen organizer skills in digital strategy and data analysis. The 18 funded projects ranged from experimenting with faith-based relational organizing, to engaging communities with in-language messaging apps, to running micro-influencer campaigns on Instagram and TikTok.

CIL, in partnership with Zinc Labs, has convened a cohort of 13 organizations to experiment with AI tools and LLM’s ahead of the 2023 election. These organizations are a mixture of 501c3s, 501c4s, PACs, and candidate campaigns, all of whom are doing some type of electoral work this cycle.

This work will result in a report of our findings, including best practices for campaigns and organizations, case studies from the program, and recommendations for the field.